By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai : Come rain or sunshine or even Covid-19, the Indian railways chug on. Even as the global pandemic brought countries to their knees and stationary levels, the Central Railway has continued to transport about 35 million tonnes of freight through 6.55 lakh wagons during lockdown and unlocking from 23rd March 2020 to 12th November 2020.
Over 2.55 lakh wagons of coal were loaded for movement in the CR’s efforts ensure uninterrupted power supply wherever this consignment was needed. The highest loading of a consignment of 2.67 lakh tonnes occurred in a single day on 12.11.2020.
In order to ensure the timely delivery of freight vital for the energy & infrastructure sector, the Railways ensured maintaining its goods trains at fully functional level – even during the COVID19 lockdown and unlock – which could be witnessed during the Central Railway transporting 35 million tonnes of freight successfully in meeting the needs of the industry from 23rd March 2020 to 12th November 2020.
In terms of wagon loads, this can be described as 6,55,028 wagons from 23.3.2020 to 12.11.2020. The Central Railway ran 13,619 goods trains carrying coal, food grains, sugar, petroleum products, fertilizers, containers, iron and steel, cement, onions and other miscellaneous goods. During this period, an average 2,787 wagons of freight have been loaded daily.
The Central Railway carried 2,55,605 wagons of coal to various power plants to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity. It also transported 8,539 wagons of food grains and sugar; 30,740 wagons of fertilizers and 7,616 wagons of onions for the benefit of farmers; 61,458 wagons of petroleum products; 16,879 wagons of iron and steel; 43,752 wagons of cement; 1,98,531 container wagons and about 31,908 wagons of de-oiled cake and miscellaneous goods.
The highest loading of 2.67 lakh tonnes in a single day on the Central Railway was carried out on 12.11.2020 with Nagpur division achieving ‘highest-ever’ loading of 2,664 wagons, surpassing the previous best of 2,641 wagons achieved on 05.11.2020, according to CR officials.
